Losing Drive After Sleep Mode

dumfy · 02 Jun 2013

Hi centaur78,

In a nutshell, this seems to have happened since I updated the BIOS and I've tried the things below to cure.
I still have the issue where the PC now takes a long time to boot. At the "Starting Windows" screen it's ages before the "four coloured flying dots" appear to form the four squares. After they have appeared, I'm into windows quick. So something may be hanging up waiting before the "dots" appear.

So - using the updated BIOS with Native IDE.
Plugged in the SSD to the mobo on it's own. No other devices connected. Long boot time. This is the same on both the AMD and Gigabyte controllers. Have tried all Sata sockets.

Switched BIOS to AHCI using same procedure as above and same result. Ages to boot.

Put all Sata cables back into the mobo in their original locations - long boot.

Reverted back to the old BIOS F6 and back on Native IDE - in other words, the system back exactly as it was prior to the BIOS upgrade - still have a really long boot time.

Am still on the old F6 BIOS

However, at the end of all this, noticed that if I do a soft reset during boot to force the "Launch Start Up Repair or Start Windows Normally" screen and select Start Windows, the PC boots as fast as ever with no delay at all. The delay seems to only occur during a normal boot sequence. perhaps this sheds some light on it?

That was my biggest fear - reverting back to the old F6 BIOS and the boot still taking ages. My other fear is that I now have to start over and re-install Windows. My thinking is that the BIOS update has upset Windows in some way.

Many thanks

Dumfy

dumfy · 03 Jun 2013

I hope you're still willing to help out with this centaur78.

I'm out of ideas to try now having had a go at a couple of further things today.

First checked that TRIM is enabled in Windows for the SSD - it was
Next started in Safe Mode and the PC seemed to boot normally - at least no delay
Restored a C:\ drive image I'd created before doing the BIOS update and that made no difference either. Before doing this I created an image and have now restored that - so PC is back to where it was.

Any suggestions would be great

Thanks

Dumfy

centaur78 · 04 Jun 2013

Dumfy...

you just went back to the old state ... all the advice i just said went down the drain.

Alright anyways...since you have done all sorts of things... here is my final advice....

First please use crystal disk and post the SMART values of the all the SSD and HDD here.

I will advice you what to do next... and where to connect each after this.

dumfy · 04 Jun 2013

Hi centaur78

I haven't put the PC back to where it was before starting this process. I just tried a three week old image to see if that would help with the boot issue.

Prior to doing this 3 week old restore, I first created an image of the system and have restored to it. I'm also back on the latest BIOS F8n version and the BIOS settings are still as you suggested.

I don't think I've undone all the hard work - at least hope not.

Will run crystal disk and report back

Thanks

Dumfy

dumfy · 05 Jun 2013

Hi centaur78

Attached is the Crystal Info for my three drives. Hope I've done it correctly. If not, please let me know.

Thanks

Dumfy

centaur78 · 05 Jun 2013

hmmm

Ok now only connect Sandisk SSD and the WDC HDD.... either to Gigabyte sata or AMD Sata...

Don't connect Samsung HDD till i ask you to do so !!

Let me know the feedback

centaur78 · 05 Jun 2013

Forgot to mention... since we changed the Paging file to D:\ ..... do change it to C:\ for the time being prior to doing the above..... will relocate those once we finish with the troubleshooting.

dumfy · 05 Jun 2013

OK - all done.

Re-checked BIOS settings and they are still the way you suggested.

Paging file back on C:\

C:\ and D:\ both on AMD controller

E:\ and all other devices disconnected by removing both power and sata cables. Have removed these from the rear of the devices, but sata cables are still connected to mobo (easier access this way) but shouldn't make a difference so long as the devices aren't connected?

Re-booted. Still well over a minute to boot when I was at approx 20 secs. The hold up is waiting for the "flying coloured dots" to appear.

Thanks

Dumfy

centaur78 · 05 Jun 2013

Ok now reset the BIOS to the default.

restart and check...

By the way ... the 1 min you measured was it less than compared to when all three were installed ??

dumfy · 06 Jun 2013

BIOS set to fail safe defaut.

Boot still the same - well over a minute.

Previously, before BIOS upgrade and with the SSD and 2x HDDs connected, boot time was approx 25secs.

Not sure if this info helps, but when I tried things myself a few days back after the BIOS upgrade, I only had the SSD connected - nothing else. It still took well over a minute. Admittedly, the paging file was still on D:\ at that point.

When I first installed the SSD with Windows and with nothing else connected - apart from a BDROM drive, boot time was around 15secs. I couldn't believe the speed. It does seem like something happened since the BIOS update.

Thanks

Dumfy